“It’s throwing off your clothes and cleansing yourself for the year ahead.”

Meanwhile in Britain, thousands descended upon Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice.

Police said around 23,000 attended the neolithic site in Wiltshire, with others – including hippies and pagans – visiting the nearby Avebury stone circle to witness the sun rising on the longest day of the year.

The figure was down on the estimated 36,000 who attended last year and the 30,000 expected, but they were able to get a glimpse of the sun after it came over the horizon at 4.52am, despite cloud in the area.

Police said arrests were lower than in previous years, with nine people being held for drugs offences at Stonehenge and a handful being cautioned for possession of Class A drugs, while no arrests were made at Avebury.

Stonehenge is believed to have been used as an important religious site by early Britons 4,000 years ago. Recent pagan celebrations at the site began in the 20th century.

More than a million people flock to Stonehenge every year, with thousands attending ceremonies to mark the solstices in summer and winter.